In a few months, there will be a new way for householders to make money from heating their homes.

But with it comes a new wave of scammers out to make a quick buck, according to the experts.

Energy installers gearing up for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a cash payback system that becomes available for householders early next year, say people are already being targeted by the cowboys.

And people should heed “horror stories” that surrounded the feed-in tariff - a similar cashback incentive for solar PV panels that came in a few years ago, they claim.

Cases of elderly people who are promised paybacks from heating systewms which, in reality, are spread over 25 years or more are far too common, claims Wayne Richardson.

As managing director of Revolution Power, a Newton Aycliffe installation company that often works on Teesside, he’s approached by cowboy firms regularly.

He claims the companies have a ‘sucker’ list - householders, mainly elderly people, that have previously had installations done by disreputable firms.

“They take deposits from people - sizeable deposits - without any resource,” he says.

“The people that shout loudest will get some sort of heat pump installed, but it won’t be correctly installed.

“It all seems very plausible - but they’re offering them something that’s never going to happen.

“In the figures we’ve got from Government on the RHI, you are only going to get your money back on your heating system.

“We are telling people not to sign up to these shady dealings, it’s morally reprehensible.”

Malcolm Potter is director with Billingham-based tadea, which delivered the Energy Saving Trust’s energy advice line contract across large parts of the north until last year.

“These are the first rumblings of a new kind of approach for scammers.

“There are a number of companies around like this.

“It doesn’t matter what the latest thing is, there are always people trying to take advantage; especially those that are phoning people at home or leaflet dropping.

“Going back to when we had the Energy Saving Trust, we were talking to hundreds of people on a daily basis.

“Recently there’s been lots of cowboys telling people how much they can save.

“It’s about telling people to be vigilant when dealing with people that are cold calling - whether it’s about double glazing, central heating, solar panels - or nowadays, air source heat pumps.

“Although there’s money to be made, the installation of heating technologies is very technical.

“It all depends upon the individual building or home. People’s needs, and their properties, are not all the same.

“If they’re targeting the elderly and more vulnerable, there’s always a chance they might be able to persuade them.

“It could be single parents, who are distracted with their kids screaming in the background.

He said he’d received some “horror stories”.

“People that are 80-plus years old, persuaded to take on solar panels - when are they going to get the payback?

“Salesmen sit in people’s lounges until they sign the piece of paper.

“Some people have no scruples.

“It’s a very emotive thing, people are trusting. And there are a lot of people that would like to be green.

“If we find one, there’s always another dozen that you never get to hear about. There are householders with panels on their roofs that shouldn’t have them, or can’t afford them.”